Test The Ashes Fourth Test December 26-30 1000hrs @ The MCG

[Pakenhamsaint]

Ive gone to the pommy pub and its a bloody good crowd

 

[Bedi]

The curators have zero responsibily here. All on the horrible batting.

How about the two grassy mohawks sprouting either end of a good length? Dont get me wrong, that was fun day out at the cricket, but that pitch was fukn outrageous

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Is it cm or mm?

Whoops mm.

 

[CakeEater]

0/46 now.

Need to push on.

Bit of a slow run rate though

 

[kickazz]

Agreed.
Poor batting, good tactics in the field and pretty much all chances taken.

Good bowling as well.

It is funny, I kind of agree with how Brook and the tail approached it, given the pitch condition and their abilities.

But that's the thing: their abilities or lack thereof mean they have to bat like this more often than they should. It's a self fulfilling prophecy of shite.

 

[kickazz]

Head’s dismissal was piss poor and his shot making to that point was not exactly convincing.

Still think he is best at 5

 

[WeightOfTheWorld]

Funny old Ashes series this one.

Not sure what to make of it.

Despite its obvious flaws, Australia is still a formidable side at home - rarely do we get obliterated at home...off the top of my head....2010/11v Eng (a smashing, still it was 1-1 before boxing day); 2018/19 summer against India - still, 1-1 with two to play; 2016 v SA - the Hobart smashing, enough said.

Outside of those series, I can't really recall Australia never being in the hunt. Indeed, Australia have won 102 tests at home and lost 18 at home since the turn of the century. Incredible.

In saying that, this Ashes series seems a bit hollow. A bit soft. A bit hit and giggle. Perhaps that is the way of the world these days.

Carry on.

 

[CakeEater]

Still think he is best at 5

True, but hes still better than ussie opening

 

[Zach Package]

I'm sorry, but you and you alone are responsible for checking the field before you set into your batting stance.

Who’s call is it if the ball goes behind the wicket and why?

 

[eltrain]

Used to look forward to switching on the South Africa Boxing Day test after coming back from the G on Boxing Day. Another one of life’s little pleasures that is no more.

 

[Bedi]

0/46 now.

Need to push on.

Do we ever! But in Boland we trust. Certified MCG legend. Loved that captaincy having him face the new ball.

 

[FreoRicci]

Used to look forward to switching on the South Africa Boxing Day test after coming back from the G on Boxing Day. Another one of life’s little pleasures that is no more.

Why no NZ Boxing Day test either…

South Africa, NZ, West Indies get no recognition.

3-4 test series instead of 5.

 

[FreoRicci]

Even without Hazlewood all series, Cummins all but 1 test, this is utter pathetic by England. Massive massive chance at competing. Failure of all XI.
Root has been trash other than his century. Duckett and Crawley are awful.

Brook underdelivers everytime .

 

[Coasters7]

Not sure I agree entirely. I think the pitch is too much in favour of the bowlers. The 10mm of grass is a bit too much.

In principle though, I do agree that something is needed for the bowlers. I'm sick of seeing flat-track batsmen with poor techniques just able to whack it around. There have been no greater exponents of pitch doctoring than Bazball England at home. Everything has been geared towards technically crap players like Duckett getting runs on featherbeds. Neither today's track nor England's Bazball tracks provide a fair contest.

A few batsmen showed today that it was possible. Green seemed untroubled, as did Khawaja and Carey for most of their innings.

Only need another 50 each way (which will come when techniques improve) and all of a sudden we’re talking a fantastic test match.

 

[Jascave]

Don't think we will ever see a day of Test cricket like what we saw at the MCG today. What would've been the odds of 20 wickets falling on one day alone-and that of the first day of the Boxing Day Test.

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

The most Yorkshire sounding blokes ive ever heard since I went to York had shown up.

So like two months

 

[Doggy]

Lol England.

That is all

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Ive gone to the pommy pub and its a bloody good crowd

Make sure Duckett knows how to call an uber

 

[240volt]

Don't think we will ever see a day of Test cricket like what we saw at the MCG today. What would've been the odds of 20 wickets falling on one day alone-and that of the first day of the Boxing Day Test.

Melbourne has changed dramatically from its dust bowl days to now almost a seamer’s paradise

 

[Snarls Barkley]

Why no NZ Boxing Day test either…

South Africa, NZ, West Indies get no recognition.

3-4 test series instead of 5.

Bizarre with South Africa

Just won the World Test Championship and then have no home Tests for their summer

No idea why. SA20 starts straightaway but apparently they’ve only moved it because there was a gap in the schedule

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

The curators have zero responsibily here. All on the horrible batting.

I wouldn't say zero, but I also don't think its a bad pitch by any means.

It does expose technique, and perhaps even more mentality, in the modern game though. Putting pressure on the bowler is all well and good; but there's not pressure if you're walking back to the pavilion from playing loosely at something you could defended, left, or nudged for a single if prepared to play tight.

 

[Bedi]

Why no NZ Boxing Day test either…

South Africa, NZ, West Indies get no recognition.

3-4 test series instead of 5.

Even if there was that wouldn't be conducive to our time frame of watching cricket post Boxing Day here in Aust. Would be nice to have other options for those with a discerning taste that spans beyond buckethead clown cricket

 

[cats_09]

 

[240volt]

Amazing to think Bob Cowper scored 307 on this same ground.
More than the two teams made today combined.

 

[Plugger35]

Why no NZ Boxing Day test either…

South Africa, NZ, West Indies get no recognition.

3-4 test series instead of 5.

I can't recall NZ having a Boxing Day test, they used to have an ODI game but they just had a Super Smash game on today.

South Africa used to have Boxing Day tests as well as New Year's tests but it is all about their SA T20 competition there now.